Elsewhere, Wales Students play Carmarthen Quins in what should be a highly competitive fixture. The Quins have Welsh speedsters Jason Harries and Iolo Evans amongst their squad with the Students boasting sevens specialists Sam Cross and Luke Treharne as their main attacking options.

In the other first round matches, Bridgend play Cross Keys - who will be coached by former Wales Sevens captain Jevon Groves, hosts Cardiff play Newport and Swansea take on North Wales outfit RGC 1404.

Despite taking home both the league and cup titles last year as well as fielding three Wales Sevens internationals on Sunday, Pontypridd are still expecting to meet some tough opposition.

"This will be a different challenge for us, a new experience at club level and one that we look forward to," said team manager Richard Langmead.

"We can't claim to be favourites for the title, we have to turn up and justify our inclusion as contenders. All the clubs will be up for it and a strong squad from north Wales will also take some beating.

"We will hopefully be competitive whilst enjoying the whole experience of the day."

The meeting between the Students and the Quins is also sure to provide plenty of entertainment. Cross leads the Students side with his experience of the IRB circuit with Wales a huge boost to his side.

And if the Cardiff Met student can repeat his international heroics - he scored the final try to help Wales beat Kenya 19-0 in the semi-final in Hong Kong in March, the Students may well be in with a chance.

"I'm not sure there could be a tougher opening game to be honest," said Wales Students team manager Adrian Evans.

"Carmarthen have got players with international sevens experience as well as Chris Banfield who played sevens for GB Students last year.

"There's no doubt it will be a challenge but one of our advantages is that all 12 of our players are regular sevens players.

"Ollie Williams, Will Lewis and Dai Treharne have all won the Rossyln Park Sevens in the past so we're hopeful of getting off to a winning start."

After the opening eight games are complete, the winners of those encounters will continue into the Cup quarter-finals, while the losers will go into a knock-out Plate competition.

Wales Sevens head coach Paul John is looking forward to the day.

He said: "The beauty of this competition is that the standard will be good throughout the day.

"This is the first time our top Sevens players have had a chance to play against each other in a competitive, pre-season tournament so from a selector's point of view, that is a prospect we are all relishing ahead of the international sevens season. It also means there will be a lot of unknown entities until we get into the day itself.

John is also hoping this event, taking place on the new artificial pitch at Cardiff Arms Park, will spark new interest in sevens rugby in Wales.

"We have travelled with Wales Sevens sides to IRB Series tournaments around the world, witnessing some of the biggest crowds and best carnival atmospheres in world rugby. The likes of the Dubai, Hong Kong and Wellington Sevens are magnificent global events to be involved with and that is something we would like to strive to achieve in Wales.

"The Welsh Rugby Union will bid to host Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2018 which is a mark of the importance that is placed on the game and on creating big sevens events for rugby supporters in Wales."

One of the great names of Welsh Sevens rugby, Collin Hillman, will be honoured at the event, with the Foster's Sevens Player of the Tournament award set up in his name.

Off the field of play there will be something for everyone with the use of a hot tub available for the winners of a fancy dress competition, live music, a kids activity area and much more. The first game kicks off at 10.20 with the final scheduled for 6.30pm.

Tickets are just £10 for adults, £5 for Under 16s and £20 for a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children). Go to www.wru.co.uk/nationalsevens to purchase tickets with a free print off at home option. Tickets can also be purchased on the day from the WRU shop, 8 Westgate Street and from the Cardiff Arms Park Ticket Office.

Volulnteers in junior and youth rugby around Wales, such as those in the Blues region featured here, are working more closely than ever on a joined up approach to attracting and keeping players in the game.

Llandovery are currently sitting top of the west division with three wins from three games in the Principality Premiership. WRU TV's Graeme Gillespie talks to Drovers head coach Euros Evans as he prepares his side to face a resurgent Neath.

This week is round three of the Principality Premiership. WRU TV's Graeme Gillespie talks to Bedwas skipper George Lee and loyal Bargoed servant Leigh Meads along with ex-Carmarthen Quins coach Louie Tonkin who is now seeking success with Bahrain.

The Principality Premiership kicks off this weekend with a new format. WRU TV's Graeme Gillespie discussed the season's prospects with defending champions Merthyr along with Cross Keys, RGC 1404 and Aberavon at the official launch held at Principality Stadium earlier this week.

The new Principality Premiership season kicks off this weekend with defending champions Merthyr beginning their defence of the title against Cross Keys in the East division. Coach Dale MacIntosh and Phillip Rees are expecting a tough season ahead.

Time is running out for young fans to enjoy rugby camps in North Wales and in the Dragons region. Boys and girls, aged 6-14, will have the chance to boost their skills, making friends and having fun in the process.

Lead Volunteer Gemma Sherlock sees the Rhondda Miners Cluster as a perfect pathway for young girls in the area to work towards Under 18 and senior rugby as the cluster continues to go from strength to strength.

Ysgol y Berwyn School club hub officer Euros Jones uses a unique Welsh-centric programme to encourage youngsters to the game with Sam Warburton, Leigh Halfpenny and George North just some of the heroes that the likes of eight-year-old Moli aspire to be.

As part of her role as a Lions Home Ambassador, WRU apprentice Kira Philpott, supported by her fellow apprentices, organised a Disability Rugby Lions Legacy festival at the WRU National Centre of Excellence.

Second row Sean Moore began the season playing for Division One club Mountain Ash and ended it playing for Wales in the World Rugby U20 Championship. He tells us about his whirlwind rise to international rugby which will give hope to all club players who have missed out on regional rugby.

Ever wondered what it takes to feed a World Cup squad away from home? Nutritionist Chris Edwards talks us through the Wales U20 utrition plan in Tbilisi, Georgia which has kept the lads going throughout the World Rugby U20 Championship campaign.

Joe Goodchild and Phil Jones were part of a Wales U20s group who visited Georgia's Paralympic centre. After playing various sports against Georgia's best paralympians, both admitted the visit has opened their eyes and put their defeat to Scotland in perspective.

There was a special reunion recently for Wales head coach Robin McBryde when he visited Parc Eirias to play Mark Jones' RGC side. He was re-united with Denley Isaac - the man who spotted him as a raw 19-year-old and put him on the path to international rugby.

A family day out at the beach just got better than ever with the WRU announcing its first beach rugby taster session in Pembrokeshire where everyone is invited to play at Broad Haven South beach on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th June.

Hollywood actor Michael Sheen was at the Talbot Athletic Ground to support his home team Aberavon against eventual winners, Merthyr in the Tier 1 Principality Premiership final. GTFM Radio's Ioan Dyer chatted to the star who was enthralled by the season's climax.

It's a case of winner takes all at Talbot Athletic Ground tomorrow (KO 3.30pm) where Aberavon and Merthyr will be aiming to be crowned Tier 1 Principality Premiership champions. Rival captains Ian Moore and Craig Locke look ahead to the season's climax along with Wizards head coach, Jason Hyatt.

Jordan Collier is hoping Neath can make it third time lucky after two earlier defeats by Newport as the two famous clubs contest the Principality Premiership Tier 2 final at the Gnoll tomorrow evening. But Newport's Craig Warlow and Dan Partridge are determined to finish their season on a high note.

After 378 games for Aberavon, second row Ian Moore is hoping to end his Wizards career with his first league title in Sunday's Principality Premiership showdown against Merthyr. Often attending training after a 16hr shift at the steelworks, his teammates are determined to make sure he goes out in style.

Kristian Jones had the chance to snatch victory at the death with a difficult conversion of Lee Williams 79th minute try, but his kick missed the target and with it went Llandovery's unbeaten record in a 20-19 defeat at the Talbot Athletic Ground.

In this week's podcast with WRU TV's Graeme Gillespie, Llandovery skipper Richard Brooks reveals the signing of the Principality Premiership season while Ebbw Vale's Ronny Keynes says his side aren't panicing, despite being at the wrong end of the East division points table.

The Welsh Rugby Union Group has re-invested £36.6m into the national game at all levels, which equates to an 11% increase for the second successive year, according to its latest Annual Report, published today.